Come along to the the Chocolate Factory and learn more about the art of the chocolatier.

A 30 minute presentation with Aaron Foord, who will let you into the secrets of producing the gorgeous chocolates we all love. With the opportunity to buy a box of your favourites to take home for friends or to indulge yourself.

The Chocolate Experience Cafe, incorporating the Walkers are Welcome Centre will also be open to purchase hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Unst has a well documented history of producing fine lace knitting and The Heritage Centre is fortunate in having one the best collections in the country. A cache of fine lace garments, over 100 years old, was found and kindly donated to the Centre. The items were very fragile but fortunately Unst still has ladies with the skill to replicate these garments and rescue long lost lace patterns.

Unst Lace

If you fancy coming along to find out a bit more and giving these traditional skills a go then come along to the knitters and spinners workshop. All abilities welcome – help will be on hand to get you started!

Interested in how the most northerly fire station in the UK responds to call outs on a remote island? Want to find out what equipment the Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service (HIFRS) use on a regular basis? Keen to know the level of training firefighters require to be part of HIFRS? Fancy a look around a fire station? Or maybe you just want to meet a hunky fireman?

Whatever your reason, feel free to come along to Baltasound Fire Station and get the tour of the station. You’ll also get the chance to be shown some demonstrations of the kit used and the procedures employed at incidents. A great opportunity to be shown round a rural fire station, so come along and see what we do.

Held each year in the first week of February, Up-Helly-Aa is a day where our Viking history is celebrated. For many the torch lit procession in the evening is the highlight of the day. The 100 strong party of guizers parade round Uyeasound holding burning torches to the site where the Galley meets it’s fiery end.

Preparations for the event begin a full year in advance and the elected Jarl and his squad will regularly meet in the Galley Shed throughout the year carrying out the tasks which are needed for the big day to run smoothly.

Uyeasound Galley Shed

This is your chance to take a look around the Uyeasound Galley Shed and get the low-down on the history of Up-Helly-Aa from some present/former Guizer Jarls. You will be able to see the galley, hand crafted shields and viking costumes which the Jarl Squad wear on the day.

There is also a record of all the previous Jarls and some of the ornate Galley name plates from years gone by.

Come along and find out what goes on behind the scenes to make this tradition continue on over the years.

Come and be part of UnstFest 2012 Carnival as it travels around Baltasound. Can you help us make this year’s bigger and better than ever? Get yourself on a float or join the carnival as a walker taking in the sights and sounds of Unst’s capital city! This years procession boasts 3 Helly Aa squads (Uyeasound, Nesting and South Mainlaind) so it’s guaranteed to be cracker.

The walk culminates at the Baltasound Hall where prizes for best float await and then you can dance your socks off to The Dirty Lemons – Shetland’s premier Indie/Rock band!

UnstFest Carnival

Date: Friday 20th July 2012

Venue: Floats and participants on foot to muster at Leisure Centre Car Park